Destino Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 After the Butler drama, KATs stat line tonight is a bad look. Just 8 points and as many shot attempt as personal fouls (6). Butler went out there and took 23 shots, like a boss. The Timberwolves lost. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma There Goes That Man Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 2 hours ago, stevemcqueen1 said: Good Lord this is a beat down. So umm... Houston's defense might have taken a big step back. And if Anthony Davis makes it through the season healthy, he's got to be the favorite to win MVP right? Davis, Kawhi and Lebron have the best chance. Harden wont win it again. Same for Russ. Durant and curry cancel each other out. Davis has a chance to put up fresh stats on a middling playoff team. Kawhi could get the raptors to a 1 seed potentially and with a big bounce back year would be a great story the media loves Lebron elevating his teammates and having some wow games while getting the lakers to finish top 4 would be what it takes for him. Giannis will pile up stats with the new coach and faster playstyle that will let him become more of a playmaker but his team just isn’t good enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Doncic looks really slow for a guy listed as a point guard. Ayton looks real good. If he has the work ethic he’s a star for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 3 hours ago, Momma There Goes That Man said: Giannis will pile up stats with the new coach and faster playstyle that will let him become more of a playmaker but his team just isn’t good enough. His team is better than LeBron's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 3 hours ago, Destino said: Doncic looks really slow for a guy listed as a point guard. Ayton looks real good. If he has the work ethic he’s a star for sure. Doncic is fast in the open court but he's not a fast first step guy. But when you're a;ready a 6'8 220 pound tank at the position, you don't really need to be. He's also not technically their PG, Dennis Smith Jr is. He's a kind of positionless point forward/combo guard. He'll probably log time at each position 1-4 for Dallas. I'll be interested to see how they use him once Barnes is back. He's going to be running pick and rolls as the ball handler with DeAndre Jordan, and as the roll man with DSjr. It's a bizarre and wonderful skill set. He's going to have to adjust to NBA speed though. Especially on the closeout. And adjust to the NBA line. I think Ayton is a definite star too. Such a smooth low post game and such a potent and unique pick and roll weapon. He has a throwback post game. You can just throw him the ball in the lane and he'll work over any single defender to get to the rim. Keeps the ball above his head and there is little wasted motion. He has the potential to be the best roll man in the NBA because he can pop almost as well as finish in traffic in the lane. And he can already pass? He'll be a 20 & 10 machine. Literally the only flaw is the soft rim protection. But name me an offensively gifted scoring big in the league who isn't a soft rim protector other than Kristaps and Embiid. What I love most about Ayton is that, even though he can shoot, he doesn't for a moment confuse himself with being a guard. He is a classic, pure center and he plays the game like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 This Suns roster is absurd. They have 27 rotation worthy SFs and zero PFs . They're going to run permanent small ball line ups with Ayton and Chandler at the 5. And oddly enough, the plan may work. Their talent at the three is enviable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 7 hours ago, Destino said: After the Butler drama, KATs stat line tonight is a bad look. Just 8 points and as many shot attempt as personal fouls (6). Butler went out there and took 23 shots, like a boss. The Timberwolves lost. That's another charitable take for Butler. I don't understand why everyone is twisting themselves up trying to defend him. I understand KAT was in foul trouble, but 23 points on 23 shots is what's not a good look. KAT is the big and the best scorer on the team. It's the job of the guards to get him the ball in scoring positions. But more importantly, if Butler actually does cause the Timberwolves to start worrying about getting their shots each night, then he will have poisoned them completely. And I believe that's absolutely what will happen, if it hasn't already. Butler is a horrible teammate and an even worse leader. He's killing that team and he'll do serious long term damage to them if they don't trade him soon. I'm not sure I can ever remember a star player being so open about only playing for himself and and for money before. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Going back to Ayton because he's such a fascinating talent: I think he ended up in the right situation in Phoenix. I know that sounds crazy because Phoenix has been such a mess, but I look at the young talent surrounding Ayton and see good fits. Booker is really going to flourish with him as an inside presence. Ayton can command a double team and he can pass. He'll hit his outlets when they trap him in the post and he can hit the weakside corner man on his pick and roll rim runs. And the beauty of it is, can you really afford to double Ayton when Booker is on the wing? Booker is easily the most dangerous scorer in the NBA under the age of 22. This is a fearsome young inside-outside tandem. The stuff that championship cores are made from. If/when Booker develops his passing game, then they're going to have their way with people. And I like the peripheral guys too. I love Mikal Bridges's game and I thought that was a fantastic trade for them. I believe Philly made a mistake in swapping him for Zhaire Smith (even though I really liked Smith's defense) because I felt they needed shooting at the forward spots more than they needed an on ball defensive specialist guard. Bridges can slide in really nicely in Phoenix's line up, when he's ready. Josh Jackson looks very much improved and I see a quicker and more explosive Rondae Hollis-Jefferson/Michael Kidd Gilchrist in him. He's a bigger talent and more dangerous inside finisher than them. Warren is a classic microwave bench scorer on a reasonable long term deal. He's carved out a very consistent role there--kind of a poor man's Tobias Harris. Ariza and Chandler are rock solid vets and good mentors who play the game the right way and can teach professionalism to the young guys. They don't have much at point guard or power forward, but that's a really good mix of wings to pair with what looks like a transcendent guard-center tandem. And they are going to have lots of cap space again next summer. If they can leverage that into a good PG and have their young guys develop, they could get really good really fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterMP Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 When you were talking about Miami if Butler went there, I told you he was never particularly efficient. Never has been. He gets his points, but on a really good team, at best he's the 3rd option on offense. He's also not a very good passer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 16 minutes ago, PeterMP said: When you were talking about Miami if Butler went there, I told you he was never particularly efficient. Never has been. He gets his points, but on a really good team, at best he's the 3rd option on offense. He's also not a very good passer. He had a poor shooting night and I agree that he's not a great passer, but I don't know how you can say he's not efficient and never has been. He has a career ORtg of 119. That is extremely good for a 25% usage perimeter player. He's been over 120 four seasons in his career. He scores in volume at a high percentage, gets to the FT line at a superstar rate and shoots them very well, and he simply doesn't turn the ball over. And while he's not a great passer, he's averaged between 4 and 5 assists the past several seasons. That's good for someone who doesn't turn it over. Jimmy Butler the leader and teammate is awful. But Jimmy Butler the player is outstanding. He'd be an elite second option on most teams if he wasn't carrying a ton of off court baggage. As a third option you're talking about a super team. I wouldn't give up anything for him though, and I wouldn't sign him to a long term deal. He's proven to be selfish and untrustworthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterMP Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 41 minutes ago, stevemcqueen1 said: He had a poor shooting night and I agree that he's not a great passer, but I don't know how you can say he's not efficient and never has been. He has a career ORtg of 119. That is extremely good for a 25% usage perimeter player. He's been over 120 four seasons in his career. He scores in volume at a high percentage, gets to the FT line at a superstar rate and shoots them very well, and he simply doesn't turn the ball over. And while he's not a great passer, he's averaged between 4 and 5 assists the past several seasons. That's good for someone who doesn't turn it over. Jimmy Butler the leader and teammate is awful. But Jimmy Butler the player is outstanding. He'd be an elite second option on most teams if he wasn't carrying a ton of off court baggage. As a third option you're talking about a super team. I wouldn't give up anything for him though, and I wouldn't sign him to a long term deal. He's proven to be selfish and untrustworthy. Bet you Kyrie ends up with a higher TS% than him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justice98 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 10 hours ago, Destino said: After the Butler drama, KATs stat line tonight is a bad look. Just 8 points and as many shot attempt as personal fouls (6). Butler went out there and took 23 shots, like a boss. The Timberwolves lost. KAT, while still a very young player, is establishing he's not an alpha. The leader of that team will need to be somebody other than him for a while. Or maybe always. I'm probably being unfair to a guy that only turns 23 next month, but like you say, not a good look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dont Taze Me Bro Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 In 2019, the NBA G League is going to start offering select contracts worth $125K to elite college prospects that would most likely be one and done players. Link to the ESPN article: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25015812/g-league-offer-professional-path-elite-prospects-not-wanting-go-one-done-route-ncaa I've never really liked the one and done rule and always felt that kids graduating high school should only be required to be 18 years of age by the start of the league year to play in the NBA (if drafted). I think it's ridiculous forcing kids to be on year removed from high school and forcing them to go to college for one year. So, I'm happy to see this going down and locking them up and paying them for one year. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhead36 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Its the Unibrow's year to win MVP. Pelicans will make the WCF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lombardi's_kid_brother Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 3 hours ago, Dont Taze Me Bro said: In 2019, the NBA G League is going to start offering select contracts worth $125K to elite college prospects that would most likely be one and done players. Link to the ESPN article: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25015812/g-league-offer-professional-path-elite-prospects-not-wanting-go-one-done-route-ncaa I've never really liked the one and done rule and always felt that kids graduating high school should only be required to be 18 years of age by the start of the league year to play in the NBA (if drafted). I think it's ridiculous forcing kids to be on year removed from high school and forcing them to go to college for one year. So, I'm happy to see this going down and locking them up and paying them for one year. I'm curious if any top prospects follow this route. The dirty little secret is that while it's completely wrong to force players to go to college, it's actually a fairly safe holding pattern for the player. You go to wherever, take two classes first semester, have a full-time tutor help you keep your GPA, you play a relatively easy college season, and you drop out of school in the middle of second semester after the tourney. And - as Kyrie and others have shown - you can milk an injury all year and never play and never put your body at risk. $125K for a year sounds good, but the G league is kind of a grind. 50 games in **** buildings. I think this will be great for the marginal pros who are not college ready, but it's not going to impact anyone with a chance of going in the top 15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillUnknown Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 125k might be a pay cut for some of the top dogs 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 I didn’t know Lonzo Ball had lost his starting spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 5 hours ago, StillUnknown said: 125k might be a pay cut for some of the top dogs G League doesn’t have amateur rules though right? If they’re big time prospects they can hire an agent and negotiate with sponsors immediately, meaning they can deal with anyone and not just shady people that might feel they’re owed favors to remain silent. Colleges wouldn’t need to hire blue chips family members or AAU coaches either. What’s in it for the GLeague? They get nothing for developing these guys into pros unless they’re banking on people actually watching the GLeague. That seems unlikely. In Europe pro soccer teams develop young prospects (starting as early as 7 years old) but they get paid if those players get picked up by pros. Everyone wins (and gets paid). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Do Itch Big Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 34 minutes ago, Destino said: I didn’t know Lonzo Ball had lost his starting spot. I’m loving it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Commando Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 32 minutes ago, Destino said: I didn’t know Lonzo Ball had lost his starting spot. Him being a bust feels like one of the more under-reported stories in the league right now. Earlier today I had Steven A Smith and Magic Johnson blowing smoke up my ass about Lonzo being this home run draft pick for their regime and how LeBron and Rondo were going to take him under their wing and nevermind the fact that they'll take his spot in the rotation and everyone who understands anything about the NBA can see he's about to get that Darko Milicic treatment. First take and the SAS show were a willing mouthpiece for Lakers propaganda trying to gussy up the trade value for one of their draft busts. It's not just stupid basketball people like SAS gassing Lonzo up either. Zach Lowe did it in his predictions column when he floated the unbelievably stupid trade of Lonzo plus some crap for Damian Lillard. SMFH. He's supposed to be the smart and honest one. His analysis is becoming much more typically ESPN. Their NBA coverage is an utterly compromised farce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterMP Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Josh Hart is playing more minutes than Ball and playing better too. I think Ball could be an ok NBA player, but he's only going to succeed in exactly the right situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renegade7 Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Destino said: I didn’t know Lonzo Ball had lost his starting spot. I didn't expect him hold off Junkyard Dog Rondo. But Ball had bust written all over him from get go, his dad ensured it. Where is his dad? I'm I don't really want to know, but are they taking their talents to middle of nowhereville to try that pony show somewhere else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Lakers actually looked worse than I expected, like a group of mismatched parts that don't fit together, but it's only one game. They'll either get better or they'll be active before the trade deadline and look much different for the second half of he season. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterMP Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 4 hours ago, Destino said: Lakers actually looked worse than I expected, like a group of mismatched parts that don't fit together, but it's only one game. They'll either get better or they'll be active before the trade deadline and look much different for the second half of he season. I think Lebron is great, but I really think that team is going to struggle to make the playoffs in the west, and I don't see how they are very active in the trade market to really improve unless they use their cap space to take back a bad contract, but that then ruins the dream of drawing another big name FA out there. They just don't have many pieces that it makes sense for them to trade that anybody else is really going to want. At best, they are a 6 seed, but they might not even make the playoffs. Cleveland isn't/wasn't a good team w/o Lebron, but in the east, they good play defense, play slow, let Lebron coast for large parts of games, and pick his spots to expend energy to get points. LA doesn't have the same luxury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDawg Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 LeBron will make the Lakers a team that can beat absolutely anyone. But while they will always be dangerous, they aren't going to be a tremendous team. I can see anywhere from 4th to 8th in the West, depending entirely on the minutes LeBron plays all season and supporting cast 3pt shooting. They just don't have shooters. But that fast break transition offense is scary good. Going to be an interesting season. I don't think it's as cut and dry as everyone thinks it is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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